The "Problem" of Evil in LDS Theology

[_Samuel]

The problem of evil in LDS theology is that this tree has only two manner of fruit. Minds that dwell on this subject often think in black and white. They think that all things are either good or they are evil. They judge everything in terms of positive or negative agreement. It is like saying if you are not for us then you are against us.

We too often fail to realize that the tree of knowledge of good and evil is an allegorical representation of every man’s choice to participate in the ugliness of this world in order to test our ability to overcome the lowest mentality of good and evil. In other words we choose the lowest denominator of good/evil and begin our climb in hopes of partaking of the Tree of Life. Evil is a byproduct of our humanness and man’s failure to ascend.

Now the Jews had a better understanding at times when they taught that truth had three levels. There was the subjective or knowledge; there was the predicative or beauty and there was the objective, often referred to as kingdom. In addition to that they taught that judgment was masculine, feminine, or harmonic. Knowledge was the harmonic of masculine wisdom and feminine intuition. Beauty was the harmonic of masculine justice and feminine mercy. Finally, kingdom was the harmonic of masculine intelligence and feminine creation. The Jews then believed in nine manner of fruit, but put God at the top center to make ten attributes of godliness. Note that evil was not one of the fruits and good had nine differing types.

The book of Revelation talks of twelve manner of fruit. I would speculate that the harmonic of this new layer is really “Kingdom” and infinity become the harmonic of intelligence and creation. What this is the masculine of kingdom? It is the priesthood. What is the feminine of kingdom? It is brotherhood.

Many minds have risen to nine manner of fruit, but the final achievement must be a kingdom or community as a whole reaching true brotherhood. This is not Sunday salutations or brotherly handshakes. It is not priesthood ordinances that simply give a sign. It is the Law of Consecration or the Holy Order of God taught by Abraham where all paid tithes of their possessions or property and not Satan’s distorted tithe by income. Interest, by definition means your share of property. Brigham Young changed it to income and perhaps the reason the Lord drove the church into the wilderness until the time of her redemption. Only under the Law of Consecration can we ever receive the sure sign. At the right time Satan can be bound and evil will become a lessor tree in favor of the Tree of Life. Only then is it possible to receive the sure sign. Until then we are responsible to every covenant. There is no guarantee of salvation. The higher preistood is inoperative other than sealing a covenant that we might be judged. No one can reach heaven without the higher law. No one can be sealed up unto eternal life without the same. The tree of life is what we should be taling about and not good and evil.